Union garment.



No. 705,070. Patented July 22, |902.

W. A. GRAHAM.

UNION GARMENT.

(Application led June 22, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented July 22, |902.

W.. A. GRAHAM. UNION GARMENT.

(Application filed June 22, 1901.)

2 Sheets-.Sheet 2.

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UNrTED TATEsI WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

UNION GARNIENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,070, dated .Iuly 22, 1 902.

Application filed June 22, 1901.

serial No. 65.588. (No moan.)VA

To all whom, t 11i/cry concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Josephgin the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Union-Suit Undergarments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and ligures of reference marked .thereon, which form a part of this. specification.

My invention relates 4to undergarments, and is shown'in a knitted union undergarment.

It consists in special details of construction hereinafter explained in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l shows a front view of the entire garment, and Fig. 2 is a reai` view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a rear view with the iiap buttonedin place. Fig. 4 shows the ily-facings and tab.

In the drawingsV the body of the garment is indicated at A, this letter being placed on various parts to indicate the continuous structure. On the back of the garment in the drawers part is an opening inthe fabric,- the edges of which are indicated by the numeral 2 placed on the body portion of the web near the edge. This opening isibroadest at its base and inclines upwardly and inwardly on each side to a narrow portion at the top. The base of this opening is on a horizontal line a little above the crotch of the garment when said garment is in an upright position. It is at the base approximately the width of the garment, the upper part terminating a little below the waist or corset line, as shown in Fig. 2,. In this opening is a curtain (marked B) of the same' kind of fabric as the body. On the top and sides its shape and size conform to the opening in which it is inserted and the edgesr of these parts are sewed or otherwise suitably connected. The lower edge, however, of this curtain is curved, so that it is highest in the middle and curves down toward the outer edges, leavingtwo eX- trernities 4, one on each side. These eXtremities extend a little below the edges 2, to

which they are attached, and are also prefer ably connected by stitching or otherwise to the fabric below said edges, as shown at 5 in Fig. 2. This curtain completes the back of the body ot' the drawers part and leaves it continuous, exceptingthe opening marked O in Fig. 2. To cover this opening is provided a iiap D. (Shown as turned upward and buttoned in Fig. 3 and as dropped down inFig. 2.) This `flap conforms in shape to the opening and curtain. Its base is on a line a little above the crotch of the garment and is substantiallyin width equal to the garment onthat line, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The flap is provided with `buttonholes on its edge, conforming to the buttons 13 on the margin of the opening in which the curtain is inserted. As the iiap terminates at the top of said opening it is below the waist-line, so as to be accessible. This construction, consisting of the iiap with the inclined sides broad at the base and narrow at the top, is one of the essential features of my invention, and the resultV of this construction is that when the garment is on the wearer and thus stretched the pull on the flap is even with the pull on the fabric of the body of the garment, so that there is no wrinkling or opening at the junction of the flap with the body. The latter always maintains the same relation to the former and a close junction therewith, as is not the case when the flap is rectangular in shape.

The iiap itself is of special construction. It is formed of three parts, marked, respectively, 6 7 G. The parts 6, one on each side, are extensions of the fabric of the legs of the drawers, continuing upward and inclined to conform to the shape of the curtain. The central part '7 is an insertion of like fabric extending from the top of the parts 6 and between them down below the flap and upward on the front, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1 at 8. It is sewed to the parts 6 and on its forward extension to the body of the garment, so that the crotch` of the garment is seamless and is more comfortable to the wearer. The lowerpartof this part 7 is wider than the other, and the upwardly-turned end at the crotch is stitched to the body'of the garment on the front.

The construction of the iiap with its side BiO extensions 6 6 from the body of the fabric, together with the construction of the curtain with its extensions 4 and their connection at their outer edges, give av material advantage in freedom from transverse seams at those parts, which are always uncomfortable to the wearer.

The length of the body can be adjusted by raising or lowering the buttons or other fastenings which connect the flap to the body.'

Obviously the drawing up of the iiap will draw upon the central part 7, and so shorten the body, and thisis of material convenience when the invention is applied to a union suit.

As a matter of course the garment is made, preferably, of knitted fabric and may be of any variety of stitch used in undergarments. v

In Fig. 4L I have shown the iiy-facing 9 and 10. An extension of these iy-facings forms an inside tab 11, which may be in one piece therewith or separate and connected for holding the napkin, for the other end of which a separate tab l2 is provided, it being stitched on the inside in the curtain-seam.

The front tab is supported by the facings, which are practically unyielding and afford iirm support for the napkin.

I claim as my inventionl. In an undergarment having an opening in the back of the body of said garment extending downward approximately to the crotch of the garment, broad at the base and narrowing gradually upward, a curtain inserted therein, said curtain being curved on its lower edge to leave an opening and having extensions on each side connected to the edge of said opening and to the fabric below said edge, combined with a flap corresponding with said opening first named and fastening means, substantially as described.

2. In an undergarment, having an opening in the back, a flap to cover said opening, said iiap being broader at its lower edge and narrowed gradually upward, and being formed of two side parts continuous with the fabric of the garment, and also of a separate central part connected to the part and body of the garment which extends downward to form the crotch of the garment and upward in front whereby a central seam is avoided, al1 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. GRAHAM. 

